Rep. Chris Brown

Maddy summaryHB 2896 modifies governance structures for multiple Missouri public universities, including Harris-Stowe State University, Missouri State University, and others. It establishes specific board composition rules: requiring boards of governors (replacing some boards of regents) with set member counts, limiting political party affiliation (max 4 members per party), and setting residency requirements (e.g., no more than 2 members from the same county). The bill mandates one nonvoting student member on each board and specifies term lengths (typically six years with staggered terms). These changes directly affect the governance of participating institutions by altering how board members are appointed, their qualifications, and their operational rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2508 amends Missouri law to require that each "series" within a limited liability company (LLC) be individually searchable and profiled on the Secretary of State's business entity website, similar to standard LLCs. This allows the public to search for specific series and obtain a certificate of good standing for them, improving transparency. The bill applies directly to LLCs operating with multiple series - common in real estate or investment ventures - where each series has separate assets and liabilities. To qualify, LLCs must identify each series in their articles of organization and maintain distinct records for each, ensuring the series structure is legally recognized and accessible.

Maddy summaryHB 3293, titled "Hannah's Law," requires children under 12 to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while on watercraft on state waters or wading/swimming in public waters deeper than three feet. The law applies to all such water activities except when the child is in a fully enclosed part of the watercraft or supervised by a lifeguard. Adults who allow a child under 12 to be in these situations without a life jacket face a class C misdemeanor charge. The bill is currently in its early legislative stages, having been introduced and read for the first time in February 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3448 adds one circuit judge position to the seventh judicial circuit in Clay County, increasing the total number of judges from four to five. This change takes effect beginning fiscal year 2028 and adjusts the circuit's staffing structure. The bill does not alter court procedures, legal standards, or affect the public directly; it only modifies the number of judges assigned to handle cases in that specific judicial district. As a procedural staffing adjustment, it has no substantive policy impact beyond administrative resource allocation.

Maddy summaryHB 3449 modifies how family court commissioners are appointed in four specific judicial circuits (7th, 11th, 13th, and 31st). It allows these circuits to appoint additional "state-paid" commissioners without requiring reimbursement, but only up to the number of such commissioners in place as of specific historical dates (e.g., 2027 for the 7th Circuit). Commissioners must meet circuit judge qualifications and receive associate circuit judge-level pay and benefits. This directly affects family court operations in those circuits by changing funding mechanisms for commissioner appointments.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that single-family homes rented for less than 30 consecutive days (subject to sales tax) must be classified as residential property for tax purposes, not as "transient housing." It explicitly defines "transient housing" as rentals where rent receipts are subject to sales tax, excluding short-term home rentals. This affects property owners and local tax assessors who must apply this classification when determining property tax rates. The change ensures short-term rentals are taxed under residential rates rather than commercial rates, without altering rental regulations or tenant rights.

Maddy summaryHB 3283 modifies how public employee unions and government employers negotiate contracts. It requires both sides to bargain in good faith for wages, benefits, and working conditions, with a 180-day deadline to reach an agreement before mediation begins. If negotiations stall, the dispute moves to mediation (within 14 days) and then binding interest arbitration (within 90 days), with arbitrators selected from federal or private panels. The bill prohibits public employers from making unilateral changes to negotiated terms during bargaining and ensures arbitration decisions are binding, except for provisions requiring new laws. It directly affects public sector unions and government bodies across Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 3095 modifies tax credit eligibility for new business facilities, specifically affecting headquarters facilities. It extends the cutoff for eligibility from 2031 to 2041 for headquarters facilities to receive incentives under sections 135.100-135.150. The bill also allows headquarters expansions meeting minimum thresholds (25+ new employees and $1 million+ investment) to count as separate new facilities for credit purposes. Additionally, it clarifies that multiple noncontiguous buildings within the same county or municipality count as a single facility for eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 2517, a proposed Missouri bill, requires real estate wholesalers (who buy property contracts to resell for profit) to provide a specific written disclosure to property owners before any binding agreement. The disclosure, printed in bold and clearly visible, explains the wholesaler's role, confirms the owner should seek legal advice, and states the wholesaler may sell the contract without the owner's consent. Property owners must sign this disclosure before a contract is finalized, and if the wholesaler fails to provide it, owners can cancel the deal without penalty and get their earnest money back within 30 days. The bill directly affects real estate wholesalers and property owners in Missouri transactions, with enforcement handled by the attorney general under Missouri's consumer protection laws.

Maddy summaryHB 3175 allows Missouri residents with a health condition or disability that impairs communication with law enforcement to request a special designation when registering a motor vehicle. To qualify, applicants must provide certification from a licensed physician or psychologist confirming the condition will likely persist for at least five years. If approved, the designation is added to the state law enforcement database (MULES), alerting officers during interactions. The designation remains active for five years and requires renewal with updated certification, with the state highway patrol required to educate law enforcement on its use.